Northern Ireland Civil Service: Smoking at Work

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	During the month of January 2005, how many cases there were of Northern Ireland civil servants being warned or fined for smoking at work.

Baroness Amos: During the month of January 2005 there were no cases where civil servants have been formally warned i.e. in writing, or fined for smoking at work. Responsibility for the issuing of informal or verbal warnings rests with the line manager and such information could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Northern Ireland Civil Service: Official Cars

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What grades of senior civil servants in Northern Ireland are entitled to official cars and drivers; and how much this facility has cost for each year for each department since 1 January 2000.

Baroness Amos: Official cars for use by the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration are mainly provided by the Central Transport Unit of the Department of Finance and Personnel. Primarily they are for the use of Ministers. However, officials at grade seven level and above are permitted to use this facility to ensure that the cars are used to full capacity.
	Information on cost by department is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. The costs of providing an official car service through the Centralised Transport Unit, for each of the past five financial years, for the 11 departments are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Total cost of car pool £k 
			 2000–01 465 
			 2001–02 942 
			 2002–03 528 
			 2003–04 447 
			 2004–05* 394 
		
	
	*to 31 January
	Official cars for Northern Ireland Office staff are provided on the basis of business need and not on the basis of their grade. Northern Ireland Office costs are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Cost £k 
			 1999–2000 323 
			 2000–01 397 
			 2001–02 323 
			 2002–03 264 
			 2003–04 505

Northern Ireland: Ombudsmen

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many ombudsman-type positions, including sectoral oversight commissioners, exist in Northern Ireland; for how long each post has existed; who occupies each position; what are the salary and remit for each post; and what was the budget for each year from 2001 to 2005.

Baroness Amos: At 10 March 2005, there were two ombudsmen and two oversight commissioners in Northern Ireland, as follows:
	
		
			 Body/Date Created/Current Office Holder/Remuneration/Expenditure 2000–04 and Budget 2004–05 Remit 
			 Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland/Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints   1969   Dr T. J. Frawley (both posts) £109,892 per annum 2001–02–£950,000 2002–03–£951,000 2003–04–£1,061,000 2004–05–£1,199,000 The remit for both posts is to investigate complaints from aggrieved persons of injustice caused by maladministration.   The Assembly Ombudsman deals with complaints, in the main, against Northern Ireland government departments, their agencies, the North/South implementation bodies and the administrative actions of a number of tribunals.   The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints deals with complaints against a wide range of public bodies including district councils, health and social services trusts, education and library boards, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and housing associations. 
			  
			 Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland   November 2000   Mrs Nuala O'Loan 
			 £91,383.88 per annum 
			 2000–02–£7,821,378 2003–04–£6,822,381 2004–05–£5,045,000 2002–03–£6,848,512 To exercise powers conferred by the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 to secure the efficiency, effectiveness and independence of the police complaints system; and the confidence of the public and members of the police force in that system. 
			  
			 Criminal Justice Oversight Commissioner   June 2003   The right honourable Lord Clyde £600 per day (when on oversight business)   2003–04–£29,262 2004–05–£500,000 To provide independent scrutiny of the implementation of the changes in criminal justice arrangements and structures flowing from the Government's decisions on the criminal justice review and the provisions of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002. 
			  
			 Office of the Oversight Commissioner for Policing   May 2000   Mr Al Hutchinson   £600 per day (when on oversight business)   2001–02–£653,823 2002–03–£785,930 2003–04–£735,175 2004–05–£800,000 To oversee the implementation of the changes in the policing of Northern Ireland as set out in the recommendations of the Patten report. (Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 refers).

Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7 February (WA 77), whether the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has written to the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor or any other Law Officer commenting on, objecting to, or in any way expressing displeasure with or dissent from comments made by a resident magistrate in respect of a case in which her office was involved; if so, on what occasions; and under what circumstances.

Baroness Amos: The Police Ombudsman has advised that her office has not written to the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor or any other Law Officer commenting on, objecting to, or in any way expressing displeasure with or dissent from comments made by a resident magistrate in respect of a case in which her office was involved. On one occasion the ombudsman did consider that one of her staff was inaccurately criticised, in court, by a magistrate and sought clarification from the magistrate through correspondence. In the absence of a response the ombudsman wrote to the Lord Chancellor with regard to the matter.

Northern Ireland: Freedom of Information

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Northern Ireland departments charge for the provision of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; which do not; and on what basis the decision to charge is made.

Baroness Amos: Each Northern Ireland department decides whether to charge for Freedom of Information requests on a case by case basis. The Department for Constitutional Affairs has produced guidance on when charging would be appropriate in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. The guidance is available at the following address www.foi.gov.uk/feesguide.htm and additional guidance produced by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has been placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is appropriate for employees of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to issue policy statements.

Baroness Amos: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent body and is therefore entitled to issue statements that are within its remit.

IRA Terrorists: Criminal Records

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 3 March (WA 33) on "IRA terrorists: criminal records", what was the nature of the conference in Dublin on 16 November 2004, which Ministers and officials attended from Northern Ireland; whether the subsequent press report in the Irish Times is accurate; and whether in the event of the reform of the rehabilitation of offenders legislation, terrorists would be among those who benefited.

Baroness Amos: There was no ministerial attendance. Any proposed reform of the rehabilitation of offenders legislation would not distinguish in its application between former paramilitary and other ex-offenders. However, for offenders who remain on life licence, their convictions would not be considered to be spent.

Northern Ireland: A1

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many (a) fatalities; (b) serious injuries; and (c) other collisions there have been on the A1 in Northern Ireland on the dual carriageway section between Sprucefield and Loughbrickland, in each of the past five years.

Baroness Amos: The PSNI has informed me that statistics about road traffic collisions are collated using roundabouts and defined junctions as dividing points, and that it would involve disproportionate cost to split the data in the way requested. However, statistics are available for the number of collisions between Sprucefield roundabout and the Carnbane roundabout at the north side of Newry city. The figures are set out in the table below and cover the period from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2004.
	
		
			  Numbers 
			 Number of injury collisions 160 
			 Number of persons killed 15 
			 Number of persons seriously injured 46 
			 Number of persons slightly injured 258

Northern Ireland: A1

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many (a) fatalities; (b) serious injuries; and (c) other collisions there have been on the A1 road in Northern Ireland at Loughbrickland, where the single carriageway section begins at the land border with the Irish Republic, in each of the past five years.

Baroness Amos: The PSNI has informed me that statistics about road traffic collisions are collated using roundabouts and defined junctions as dividing points, and that it would involve disproportionate cost to split the data in the way requested. However, statistics are available for the number of collisions between the Carnbane roundabout at the north side of Newry city and the border with the Republic of Ireland. The figures are set out in the table below and cover the period from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2004.
	
		
			  Numbers 
			 Number of injury collisions 59 
			 Number of persons killed 6 
			 Number of persons seriously injured 14 
			 Number of persons slightly injured 114

Northern Ireland: A1

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What figures they have on the volume of traffic using the A1 road in Northern Ireland on the sections (a) between Sprucefield and Loughbrickland; and (b) between Loughbrickland and the land border with the Irish Republic, in each of the past five years.

Baroness Amos: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird dated 18 March 2005.
	You recently asked Her Majesty's Government what figures they have on the volume of traffic using the A1 road in Northern Ireland on the sections (a) between Sprucefield and Loughbrickland; and (b) between Loughbrickland and the land border with the Irish Republic, in each of the past five years [HL1735]. I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	Roads Service carries out continuous traffic counting at five sites on the A1 between Sprucefield and Loughbrickland and at six sites between Loughbrickland and the land border. The available data on the average volume of vehicles per day recorded in each of the past five years is shown in the table below.
	
		
			 A1-Sprucefield to Loughbrickland  
			 Location Year   
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
			 Sprucefield-Hillsborough n/a 31,090 33,450 34,790 33,980 
			 Lisburn-Hillsborough n/a 31,090 33,450 34,790 33,980 
			 Hillsborough Bypass n/a n/a n/a n/a 27,420 
			 Dromore-Banbridge 21,220 21,120 22,530 23,510 23,720 
			 Banbridge Bypass 16,610 16,960 16,240 17,810 17,730 
			 A1-Loughbrickland to the border Location  
			 Loughbrickland-Newry 16,550 16,940 16,870 17,110 17,980 
			 Newry Bypass Stage I 15,010 16,600 15,040 16,690 17,670 
			 Newry Bypass Stage II n/a 20,860 20,440 22,440 23,210 
			 Newry Bypass Stage III 13,210 14,570 13,640 15,230 15,710 
			 Dublin Road, Newry 17,620 19,320 18,290 19,080 19,680 
			 Newry-Border 18,050 18,990 17,720 18,000 17,600 
		
	
	I trust this is helpful.

Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7 September 2004 (WA 105), (a) what and how much funding was made available to the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO) for the purchase of property before December 2004; (b) what happened to that property, and (c) what arrangements exist for return of this funding if NIACRO ceases to exist or no longer requires the property.

Baroness Amos: Further to my Written Answer of 7 September 2004 (WA 105), I can confirm that:
	(a) Aside from the grant of £250,000 about which I informed the noble Lord in my previous Answer, no further funding was made available to the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO) for the purchase of property before December 2004; and
	(b) The property in question is nearing completion and the organisation is making arrangements to move its operations into the new building on or around 1 April 2005.

Northern Ireland Civil Service: Public Holidays

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 27 January (WA 171), on which days or dates the 1.5 extra public and privilege holidays are taken by Northern Ireland civil servants compared to civil servants in Great Britain; and whether this figure takes account of different bank holidays.

Baroness Amos: The additional 1.5 days' public and privilege holidays taken by Northern Ireland civil servants and NIO staff working in Northern Ireland is the overall net effect of a number of differences. The following table provides the details.
	
		
			 Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays NorthernIreland CivilService andNIO Home CivilServants inEngland andWales Home CivilServants inScotland 
			 New Year's Day - - - 
			 2 January   - 
			 St Patrick's Day -   
			 Maundy Thursday Afternoon  -  
			 Good Friday  - - 
			 Easter Monday - -  
			 Easter Tuesday -   
			 Early May Bank Holiday - - - 
			 Spring Bank Holiday - - - 
			 HM The Queen's Official Birthday  - - 
			 12 July -   
			 13 July -   
			 Late Summer Autumn Bank Holiday - - - (1.5 Days)additional 0.5day in lieu ofMaundyThursdayafternoon 
			 Christmas Day - - - 
			 Boxing Day - - - 
			 Third Day at Christmas - - - 
			 Total 12 10.5 10.5

Northern Ireland: Visit of President McAleese

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the security and other costs of the visit to Northern Ireland of the President of Ireland on 24 February.

Baroness Amos: Information on the security costs of President McAleese's visit to Northern Ireland on 24 February 2005 is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. All other costs associated with the visit were borne by the organisations visited.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	As a result of the allegations of bullying and harassment at Waterways Ireland, what legal costs from the organisation's budget were incurred; and by whom and when.

Baroness Amos: I am advised by the chief executive at Waterways Ireland that the body incurred costs of £4,089.01 for legal advice in respect of these allegations. The advice was provided to the chief executive in the period between February 2003 and February 2004.

Nepal

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have made to the government of Nepal about the continued detention of political leaders, the suppression of the media, and the alleged extra-judicial killings and human rights violations carried out by the Royal Nepalese Army and by Maoist rebels.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Following the takeover of power by the King on 1 February, my honourable friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Douglas Alexander) summoned the Nepalese Ambassador to express our grave concern at developments. The UK also issued a statement with European Union (EU) partners highlighting our concerns about restrictions on liberty and calling for human rights to be respected. Our ambassador raised our concerns directly with the King on 8 February and raised similar concerns in conjunction with other EU member states' ambassadors, with the new Nepalese Foreign Minister on 7 February.
	We understand that many of the political leaders have now been released from detention, although we remain concerned for other political and human rights activists who have been detained since the King's takeover. Restrictions on political reporting and commentary in the media are gradually being relaxed although there is still an outright ban on military reporting that does not come direct from official military sources. In the absence of independent reporting, through the media and through non-governmental organisations, it is very difficult to get confirmed reports of extra-judicial killings or human rights abuses by the Royal Nepalese Army or the Maoists. However, we continue to be deeply concerned about Nepal's poor human rights record and condemn all abuses, whoever the perpetrator is.
	Our ambassador is now seeking an early audience with the King to encourage him again to restore the fundamental rights as a first step towards restoring democracy and democratic-process. We will be taking the issue up at the United Nations Commission for Human Rights.

Small Arms: South-East Europe

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are co-operating with the United Nations Development Programme and the Serbian Government on proliferation and trafficking in small arms and ammunition in south-east Europe.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: South-east Europe is a priority region for our small arms and light weapons (SALW) activities, which include extensive funding for projects to counter the proliferation of small arms and ammunition. We co-operate closely with both the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Serbian Government in this work.
	In recent years the UK has been the lead donor to the UNDP for global SALW activities, contributing £7.5 million. The UNDP supports the south-east Europe clearinghouse for the control of small arms and light weapons (SEESAC), including a recent contribution of £130,000 of its UK funding. SEESAC's work in the region is important and innovative, including the development of micro-disarmament standards, a SALW awareness support pack, SALW survey protocols and comprehensive destruction projects. Our support in the region also includes over £500,000 for a UNDP project to destroy SALW and ammunition in Bosnia-Herzegovina and help for the Serbian Government in drafting a new export control act, that should come into force at the end of March 2005.

Iraq: British Nationals

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they keep data relating to United Kingdom civilians currently working in Iraq; and, if so, whether they will provide the number and geographical detail of those engaged there directly or indirectly on contracts.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office encourages all British nationals entering Iraq to register their details with the British Embassy in Baghdad. There are currently 736 British nationals registered, the majority of whom are in and around Baghdad.

Bangladesh: Asylum Seekers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are currently allowing in-country appeals by refused Bangladeshi asylum seekers.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Any asylum claim that is refused will attract an in-country right of appeal unless it is certified as clearly unfounded. Since 24 February 2005 asylum claims made by nationals of Bangladesh have not been certified as clearly unfounded with reference to Section 94(3) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, which relates to the Secretary of State's duty to certify asylum claims from designated countries unless he is satisfied that they are not clearly unfounded. Their asylum claims may, where appropriate, still be certified as clearly unfounded under Section 94(2) of that Act, which provides for the certification of clearly unfounded claims on a case by case basis irrespective of the country of origin.

Control Orders

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a person under house arrest or the subject of a control order will be entitled to stand as a candidate at a general election or any other election; and, if so, whether they will be able to enjoy privileges such as free postage where these are available to other candidates.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: A person subject to a control order under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 would not be disqualified from standing for election under electoral law, assuming that he was otherwise eligible to stand (for example, on grounds of age or nationality), and would be eligible for any relevant considerations associated with this. The extent to which a person subject to a control order would be able to undertake election activities in the same way as other candidates would, however, depend on the terms of the control order to which they were subject.

Cohabitation

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the consultation by the Law Commission of England and Wales regarding cohabitation will consider whether opposite-sex and same-sex couples who cohabit should be given improved legal protection with rights and responsibilities similar to those of couples who marry or enter a civil partnership.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Law Commission published its ninth programme of law reform on 22 March. This programme includes a project on cohabitation which will focus on a review of the remedies available to opposite and same-sex cohabiting couples on the termination of their relationship by separation or by death. The project will place special emphasis on reducing potential financial hardship suffered by cohabitants or their children in those circumstances. It will include comparison with the relevant law applicable to cohabitants in other jurisdictions.

Open University:Funding of Part-time Students

Lord Steel of Aikwood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What decision they have made to ensure continued funding of part-time students at the Open University.

Lord Filkin: The Government will continue to fund the Open University for all its students. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) undertook a review of part-time provision, in relation to the OU and Birkbeck College. The council announced its findings on the 1 March. These included an intention to develop a widening participation measure from the 2006–07 academic year, designed to ensure that part-time students who are not able to afford higher fees should not be disadvantaged. The council also determined that any new measures concerning part-time provision should be applied across the entire sector.

Tax-exempt Savings Plans

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When a review of the premium limits of tax-exempt savings plans was last conducted; and what increases to these plans there have been since 1992.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: In line with all taxes and reliefs the premium limits for tax-exempt savings plans are reviewed on an ongoing basis. In particular recent estimates of the cost of extending the annual premium limits was included in Answers to parliamentary Questions from Members of the House of Commons given on 4 and 22 February 2005.
	The premium limit for tax-exempt savings plans was increased from the 1992 level to the current level on 1 May 1995, the day on which the Finance Act 1995 was passed.

Inward Foreign Direct Investment Stock

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the figures for inward foreign direct investment stock as a percentage of gross domestic product in 1990 and 2003 for each of the members of the European Union (as shown in Chart 2.5 on page 15 of the Treasury's Long-term global economic challenges and opportunities for Europe); and what were the comparable percentages for 1996 or 1997.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The inward foreign direct investment stock as a percentage of gross domestic product in 1990, 1996, 1997 and 2003 is presented for each member of the European Union (with the exception of Belgium and Luxembourg) in the table below:
	
		Inward direct investment stock (percentage of GDP)
		
			 Country 1990 1996 1997 2003 
			 Austria 6.1 7.7 8.5 23.7 
			 Denmark 6.9 12.2 13.2 36.1 
			 Finland 3.8 6.9 7.8 28.6 
			 France 7.1 12.9 13.9 24.7 
			 Germany 7.1 8.3 9.1 22.6 
			 Greece 6.7 9.7 10.7 9.8 
			 Ireland 71.5 58.2 56.5 129.7 
			 Italy 5.3 6.1 7.0 11.8 
			 Netherlands 23.3 30.7 32.4 65.6 
			 Portugal 14.8 17.7 18.1 36.3 
			 Spain 12.8 17.7 17.8 27.4 
			 Sweden 5.3 12.9 16.8 47.5 
			 United Kingdom 20.6 19.2 19.0 37.4 
		
	
	Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development website (www.unctad.org).
	Note: No figures were available for Belgium or Luxembourg individually.

Stamp Duty: Disadvantaged Areas Relief

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the estimated yield of £340 million to the Exchequer in 2005–06, from ending disadvantaged areas relief from stamp duty land tax, as set out in the 2005 Budget, included the yield from ending relief from duty on leases; if so, how much that was of the total it represented; and, if not, what is the estimated additional yield from ending relief on lease duty.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: This estimate includes the yield from ending relief for new leases, which accounts for around £25 million of the total.

Stamp Duty: Disadvantaged Areas Relief

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What elements make up the differences between the estimated yield to the Exchequer of £340 million in 2005–06, as set out in the 2005 Budget, from ending disadvantaged areas relief from stamp duty and the previous estimate of the cost of relief of £1 billion.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Disadvantaged areas relief (DAR) on commercial transactions is estimated to cost £870 million out of the estimated total cost of DAR of £1 billion in 2004–05. The estimated yield from abolition of DAR on commercial transactions is lower than the cost of relief because the latter includes the effect of the substitution of DAR for other stamp duty land tax (SDLT) reliefs (such as group relief), the claiming of DAR in respect of transactions undertaken in earlier years, and the effect of additional transactions generated by the relief. None of these elements of the cost of relief claimed will form part of the yield from abolition of DAR on commercial transactions.
	Because the cost of these individual elements is highly uncertain, the estimated yield from ending disadvantaged areas relief in 2005–06 is based upon the estimated historic yield from commercial transactions, projected forwards to 2005–06, and the proportion of transactions taking place in disadvantaged areas prior to the introduction of the relief.

Banks: Charges for Services

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will request the United Kingdom clearing and retail banks to limit rates of interest on unauthorised overdrafts to a figure not exceeding 12 per cent.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The setting of charges for services is a commercial decision for each individual bank. The banking code sets standards of good banking practice for banks and building societies to follow.
	The banking code requires that signatories give their customers details of any charges for the day-to-day running of their account when they open it, and that they inform their customers personally if they increase any of these charges or introduce a new charge, at least 30 days before the change takes effect. The signatories to the code are also required to tell customers the charge for any other service or product before they provide that service or product, and at anytime the customer asks.
	If an individual is unhappy with the service provided by their current bank they may wish to consider changing provider. The Government believe that increased competition is the key to giving consumers effective choice and innovative services at a fair price and in practice, account providers compete through the terms of the services they offer to customers.

Northern Ireland: Pensioner Households

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what way pensioner households in Northern Ireland will benefit from the Budget proposal for a council tax refund of £200.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Although Northern Ireland does not have council tax, similar arrangements will be introduced for ratepayers in Northern Ireland. Households in Northern Ireland with someone aged 65 and over who is not in receipt of the guarantee credit element of pension credit will receive the £200 payment announced in Budget 2005. Similarly households with someone aged over 70 who is in receipt of the guarantee element of pension credit will receive the £50 payment announced at the 2004 Pre-Budget Report

Financial Inclusion Fund

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much money they now expect the Financial Inclusion Fund to spend on improving face-to-face money advice provision; and over what period.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The 2004 Pre-Budget Report announced a Financial Inclusion Fund of £120 million over the 2004 spending review period. In particular, the fund will support the Government's aim to increase access to forms of affordable credit and to see a significant increase in the capacity of free face-to-face money advice. Further details will be announced shortly.

Civil Service: Relocation of Posts

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of the 7,800 "relocations of Civil Service posts" described in paragraph 6:16 on page 138 of Budget 2005 (HC 372) are to locations within London and south-east England, in addition to the 450 posts to be moved by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to Milton Keynes. [HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: A total of 460 posts out of the 7,800 described in Budget 2005 are relocating within London and the south-east England regions: 10 to Hastings during 2004–05 and 450 planned to Milton Keynes.

Fashion Industry

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the contribution of the British fashion industry to United Kingdom exports in (a) 2003, and (b) 2004.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Published trade statistics do not make the distinction between, for example, fashion clothing and other clothing. A report A Study of the UK Designer Fashion Sector, produced for the Department of Trade and Industry and the British Fashion Council by Malcolm Newbery Consulting in 2003, gave the following estimates and percentages in terms of clothing exports in 2001. The department has no plans to update this report.
	
		
			  
			 Exports of designer clothing £390 million (14 per cent. of UK clothing exports) 
			 Exports of branded clothing £1,610 million 
			 Designer plus brands £2,000 million (75 per cent. of UK clothing exports)

Applied Construction Research

Baroness Perry of Southwark: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 21 February (WA 178), what they expect to spend on (a) research underpinning building regulations; and (b) other applied construction research in (i) 2004–05; and (ii) 2005–06.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: As stated in my previous Written Answers, there are no consolidated figures available for applied construction research across government. The DTI is, however, the largest sponsor of applied research.
	The DTI's innovation report and business support review recommended its research competitions are no longer linked to individual sectors such as construction, but focus the funds we have available on supporting industry led technological development in areas with clear market focus and delivering broader public benefits.
	It is too early to say what level of support the construction industry will be able to obtain, and how this will compare to the previous levels of funding available to the sector.
	Expected Spend Forecast:
	(a) Research underpinning building regulations
	
		
			  
			 2004–05 £5.2 million 
			 2005–06 £6.2 million 
		
	
	(b) Other applied construction research (current commitments only)
	
		
			  
			 2004–05 £5.5 million 
			 2005–06 £3 million 
		
	
	In addition, funding of £3.4 million has been approved for projects with a direct construction relevance from the April 2004 competition. The funding year profiles for these projects have yet to be finalised.
	The 2005–06 figures will be further augmented by projects successful in the proposed November 2005 and spring 2006 technology competitions.

Post Office Card Account

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 28 February (WA 8), why the personal invitation document has to be taken to a local post office when many are presented by friends and relatives on behalf of elderly, sick or housebound would-be clients.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Customers who opt for a Post Office card account are issued with a letter, the personal invitation document (PID), from the appropriate government department, inviting them to apply for a card account. Post Office Limited is required to ensure that only genuine benefit, pension and tax credit recipients open a card account. To ensure this, customers or an authorised agent must present the PID in their local Post Office branch where they will be handed a Post Office card account application form, which customers are required to complete. However, a card account holder can appoint a permanent agent who can have limited access to that account, including access to funds.

Fairtrade

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they have taken or will be taking to commend United Kingdom companies which, by supplying their offices with products carrying the independent Fairtrade Mark, use their buying power to support third world growers.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government support the Fairtrade movement, through funding by DfID of over £1 million from 2002 to 2007, to raise business and consumer awareness of fairly traded products.
	The commitment of UK companies, towns and cities to Fairtrade is acknowledged through the awarding of Fairtrade town status by the Fairtrade Foundation. The Government congratulate Manchester and Salford on becoming the joint 100th Fairtrade Towns, and welcome that a further 220 locations are actively running Fairtrade Towns campaigns.

Consumer Credit Act 1974

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why, in the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Electronic Communications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3236), the deemed date of service of a communication is different under Section 176A(1) and Section 69 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Section 176A of the Consumer Credit Act 1974—inserted into the Act by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Electronic Communications) Order 2004—augments the existing rules in Section 176 of the Act governing the service of documents with specific provisions dealing with the transmission of electronic documents.
	Section 176 is subject to the general rules that items sent by post are deemed to have been delivered on the day following posting. The intention was to retain this assumption in respect of electronic transmission. However, as the general rule does not apply to electronic communications, a specific provision to that effect was required. The "next day" approach was adopted because it avoids the need to make assumptions about office hours and typical transit time. The civil procedure rules contain a similar rule in respect of faxed documents.
	The different approach in respect of Section 69 is again to replicate existing provisions in the Consumer Credit Act that apply to paper-based transmission. The amended Section 69(7) specifically stated that a notice of cancellation by the borrower is deemed to have been served at the time of posting. Regulation 2(5) therefore replaces Section 69(7) with a new provision which states that a cancellation notice will be treated as having been served either at the time of posting or at the time of transmission. Historically the Consumer Credit Act has made this distinction between the deemed receipt of cancellation notices and the delivery of other communications to ensure that a borrower who wishes to cancel an agreement is able to do so with the confidence that the cancellation will be effective within the statutory cooling-off period.

Government Departments: Scientists and Engineers

Baroness Wall of New Barnet: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In light of the 2004 science and innovation public service agreement target, what have been the total numbers of scientists and engineers employed in government departments and public sector research establishments, including post-doctoral and other training contracts, in each of the past 10 years; how many of these employees were recruited in each of the past 10 years; and how many of these employees left the public service in each of the past 10 years.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Scientists and engineers are employed by individual government departments and their PSREs. The departments are also responsible for maintaining the information on the total numbers recruited and retained. The Office of Science and Technology (OST) does not hold this information centrally. I will, therefore, ask departments to write to the noble Lord directly.
	The latest available figures on the total numbers of scientists and engineers employed in government departments were collated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and published in Forward Look 2003.

Government Departments: Scientists and Engineers

Baroness Wall of New Barnet: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In light of the 2004 science and innovation public service agreement target, what information is held across government on their scientific and engineering skill base; and what assessment has been made of the science and engineering skills needed to enhance Her Majesty's Government's contribution to the science and innovation investment framework.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: It is for departments and their public sector research establishments (PRSEs) to determine what skills they require, and the number of skilled personnel employed, according to their business needs. The Office of Science and Technology (OST) is in the process of working with departments to define the key skills that all scientists and engineers require, in line with the professional skills in government programme.

Defra: Inspector Posts

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many inspector posts were created between July 1997 and July 2001 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and how many have been created since by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, both in response to legislation and through regulations giving the Secretary of State powers to create such posts.

Lord Whitty: Records show that, from July 1997 to the creation of Defra, a net three inspector posts were created by MAFF, which included a loss of five in plant health and seeds.
	Since the creation of Defra, 21 inspector posts have been created. The most significant areas were sea fish industries (seven posts) and plant health and seeds (five posts).
	In addition, the Rural Payments Agency at December 2000 was performing inspection work which equated to 359 inspector staff-years. The equivalent figure is currently 272.

Transport Policy: Mr Rod Eddington

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the terms of employment under which Mr Rod Eddington will be employed as a strategic adviser to the Government on transport policy from September 2005; how much he will be paid; and what are the anticipated costs of his office accommodation and secretarial support.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Rod Eddington's role is to advise on the longer-term impact of transport decisions on the UK's productivity, stability and growth. Rod Eddington, the Secretary of State and the Chancellor will decide how this work can be undertaken most effectively and at what cost. Mr Eddington will not be paid a salary for his work.

Transport Policy: Mr Rod Eddington

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will reimburse any travel expenses of Mr Rod Eddington incurred while undertaking his role as a government transport adviser from September 2005; and whether they will estimate the annual level of such expenses.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Rod Eddington's role is to advise on the longer-term impact of transport decisions on the UK's productivity, stability and growth. Rod Eddington, the Secretary of State and the Chancellor will decide how this work can be undertaken most effectively and at what cost.

Transport Policy: Mr Rod Eddington

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Prime Minister's strategy adviser, the Lord Birt, was consulted prior to the announcement on 16 March that Mr Rod Eddington was to become a government adviser on transport policy from September 2005.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Prime Minister is fully supportive of Rod Eddington's appointment. This is an opportunity to bring a fresh look and a business perspective to transport investment going forward and advise on the longer-term impact of transport decisions on the UK's productivity, stability and growth.

Transport Policy: Mr Rod Eddington

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Prime Minister's strategy adviser, the Lord Birt, will continue to provide advice on transport-related issues, following the announcement that Mr Rod Eddington will advise the Government on transport policy from September 2005.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Lord Birt, advised by the Strategy Unit, will continue to make valuable contributions to the shaping of government policy, including where appropriate, transport.

Transport Policy: Mr Rod Eddington

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To which Minister and department it is anticipated that Mr Rod Eddington will provide advice following his appointment as a government adviser on transport policy from September 2005.

Lord Davies of Oldham: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport has appointed Rod Eddington who, supported by officials from both the Department of Transport and Her Majesty's Treasury, will advise him on the longer-term impact of transport decisions on the UK's productivity, stability and growth.

Road Traffic Signs

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is a requirement for United Kingdom road signs to display distance in kilometres as well as in miles; and whether they plan to (a) implement dual signage in the United Kingdom; or (b) replace current signs with metric road distance signs.

Lord Davies of Oldham: There is no requirement or provision in UK legislation for traffic signs to display distances in kilometres as well as in miles. The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (2002 SI No 3113), and corresponding legislation in Northern Ireland, provide only for the use of miles, fractions of miles or yards. A European directive agreed in 1980, as amended in 1989, provides for the continuation in use of the mile and yard on road traffic signs for distance and speed measurement until a date to be fixed by the UK government.

Disabled People: Parking and Set-down Facilities at Transport Interchanges

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether local authorities are ensuring ample parking and set-down facilities for disabled people at transport interchanges; and whether they are considering any further action in this regard.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Parking and setting down facilities for disabled people at transport interchanges is a matter for the relevant operator, owner or local authority to consider and address in relation to local circumstances.
	The Department for Transport has issued advice on these issues both in Traffic Advisory Leaflet 5/95 which covers standards and provision of parking for disabled people and in Inclusive Mobility—A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure. Specific advice for the rail industry has also been issued by the Strategic Rail Authority in its code of practice—Train and Station Services for Disabled People and additional source of advice is British Standard 8300, Design of Buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Earl Peel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they have identified to reduce greenhouse gas emission from the transport sectors in order to comply with the overall Kyoto emission target of an 8 per cent. reduction from 1990 levels.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The transport White Paper The Future of Transport: a network for 2030, published in July 2004 and available via the Department for Transport's website, summarised in some detail the main steps the Government are taking to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from the transport sector. The review of the UK climate change programme, details available via www.defra.gov.uk, is considering the scope for additional measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector and other sectors, and a new programme is due to be published in the summer.

Blood Products

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what date the Department of Health commissioned its review of internal papers on the issue of self-sufficiency in blood products, consequent upon the Lord Owen's disclosures on failure to implement a commitment made to Parliament while he was a health Minister; and when they expect the outcome of the review to be published.

Baroness Andrews: An informal review to clarify the facts surrounding the drive for United Kingdom self sufficiency in blood products in the 1970s and 1980s was commissioned in July 2002. Work will be completed shortly.

Abortion

Lord Steinberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the comments made by Cardinal Cormack Murphy O'Connor on the reduction of the time limit for abortion from 24 to 20 weeks.

Baroness Andrews: It is accepted parliamentary practice that proposals for changes in the law on abortion come from Back Bench Members and that decisions are made on the basis of free votes. The Government have no plans to change the law on abortion.

NHS: Intensive Care Cots for Infants

Lord Steinberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to increase the number of intensive care cots for infants.

Baroness Andrews: It is for National Health Service primary care trusts to determine the number of intensive care cots for infants which are necessary to ensure availability and access to meet local needs. An extra £20 million has been provided yearly for neonatal intensive care services, and an extra £25 million yearly for paediatric intensive care services, which provide for the older infant. This is in addition to the primary care trusts' general funding allocation which is set to increase over the next five years and which may also be used to increase capacity where needed.

NHS: Education and Training

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the National Health Service service increments for teaching are restricted to medicine and dentistry; or whether they are also available for nursing and midwifery practice-based education.

Baroness Andrews: The National Health Service service increments for teaching funds are currently restricted to medicine and dentistry.

NHS: Education and Training

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to prepare nurses and allied health professionals to undertake new roles, such as that of nurse consultant, through funded periods of supervised practice and education.

Baroness Andrews: Post-registration training needs for National Health Service staff are decided against local NHS priorities, through appraisal and clinical governance processes. Training needs analyses are informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service.
	Access to training is affected by a number of factors such as the availability of funding, whether staff can be released, the availability of appropriate training interventions, mentors and assessors. It would not be practical for the centre to be prescriptive on this.